Invitation

Dear debating colleagues,

The Newfoundland and Labrador Speech and Debating Union (NLSDU) is pleased to invite you to the 2018 Canadian National Debating Championships (CNDC). The event will take place in St. John’s, Newfoundland, from April 20 to 22, 2018.

Delegations

Each provincial or territorial debating organization may send a delegation of up to six English teams and two French teams (of two debaters per team). All delegations must be accompanied by an official chaperone who will be responsible for all members of their delegation.

Registration

Registration will be open from March 2 through March 20, 2018. During that period, an online registration form will be posted at nats.nldebate.ca. Team spots that have been allocated but not registered by the closing date will be reallocated to other provincial/territorial delegations.

Fee

The registration fee is $275 per student debater and adult delegate. There will be no registration fee for the official chaperone of each provincial/territorial delegation. Each additional accompanying adult must pay a registration fee of $275 and should be sent to cndcnationals2018@gmail.com with newfoundlandandlabrador18 as the password. Registration includes all meals except the Saturday evening dinner.

Accommodations

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Newfoundland Hotel at 155 Cavendish Square, St. John’s NL, A1C 3K2 (709-726-4980). When booking, identify that your reservation is with “Senior National Debates” or “NLSDU” to get the reduced rate of $163 per night.

Tournament

Debates will be held in the Canadian National Debate Format (CNDF) style. The first two rounds of debate will use a prepared resolution, which will be posted online at nats.nldebate.ca three weeks before the tournament.

Following the prepared rounds on Friday evening, there will be four rounds of impromptu debate on Saturday (two in the morning and two in then afternoon), with pairings determined by bracketing. Participants will be free on Saturday night.

Elimination rounds will take place on Sunday at the host school, which will also be the venue for the championship final round and the awards ceremony.

Schedule

The schedule is available below. We recommend that you book return flights with a departure time no earlier than 4:00pm.

Regards,

Emily Bonia

Tournament Director, CNDC 2018

Tentative Schedule

Friday, April 20

3:00pm Welcome, judges' briefing

4:00pm Depart for the Rooms

5:45pm Depart for school

6:00pm Round 1 (prepared)

7:00pm Supper

8:00pm Round 2 (prepared)

Saturday, April 21

7:30am Depart hotel for school

8:00am Breakfast at school

8:30am Announce Round 3 motion

9:00am Round 3

10:00am Announce Round 4 motion

10:30am Round 4

11:45am Lunch at school

12:30 pm Announce Round 5 motion

1:15pm Round 5

2:05pm Announce Round 6 motion

2:35pm Round 6

3:05pm announce English quarterfinal break & motions

3:35pm French and English Quarterfinals Rounds

4:30pm Bus to leave for Hotel

6:30pm Bus to leave for banquet

10:00pm Bus to leave for Hotel

Sunday, April 22

8:00am Breakfast at school, Announce semifinalists for french and english & motion release